It must be time to call time on some of the imaginary barriers that chip away at our self-confidence and prevent our success.  I write well yet I never think that my work is good enough.  I help other people although I always think that I’ve fallen short and should’ve / could’ve done more.  Just the other day I was chatting with a new contact who described herself as a recovering perfectionist.  This chance comment really put me into perspective!

I admit that I am not a very good live and let live kind of person – things must be right.  And I’m just as hard on myself as I appear to be on others.  Especially when it comes to good old fashioned English grammar – and for me that includes using capital letters at the beginning of a sentence not to mention limiting the use of “and”.  Not because I’m old-fashioned but because breaking up long sentences makes for a better opportunity for the reader to understand your points.

In some ways I’ve just contradicted myself as I don’t want to dissuade people from having a go at creating something, yet I’m saying it has to be right.  And this is where keeping it simple will always help you to succeed.  Write in an uncomplicated style that make it easy for your reader (or your audience) to grasp what it is you want them to do.  All this and I’m pretending I’m not trying to be a perfectionist in 2025 – yeah right!

Two of the areas where sloppiness creeps are completing online templates or uploading them to a portal.  Whether that’s to submit a complaint, make a job application or justify why an appointment is required to name but a few examples.  There’s a relatively simple antidote to this which helps the reader and ultimately helps the writer – create a simple document in Word and then upload or copy to the template.  While the document is in Word you can call up the spellcheck facility, engage with Grammarly as well as a vast range of other AI-powered solutions.

I’ve become a bit hung up on writing so far in this piece, although there are other areas of my work and interests that I don’t always get right.  I’ve just spotted that on 22nd January last year I wrote about knitting.  What transpired is worthy of shame.

I bought some gorgeous lime green merino wool (expensive wool at that – well it would be wouldn’t it?) and a fabulous book of patterns.  And then I needed some brand new needles (well I would, wouldn’t I?) as well a bag to keep it all safe.  The back of the jumper was a triumph as well as one sleeve and oh so relaxing.  Then I wasn’t happy with the tension as it looked a bit lumpy and (you’ve probably guessed already) the jumper idea was shelved (along with the gorgeous lime green wool) by Easter.

My lampshade making workshop in September was fun although I’m unlikely to show off the end product beyond the cupboard where it is now.  Wreathmaking at the end of November came good and the block printing skills I learned for the lampshade stood me in good stead for making all of my own Christmas cards last year.  And the icing on the cake, they were all sent out by the 1st December with only the minimum quality control.  At last something which didn’t make me feel it wasn’t quite good enough.

We’ve recently completed our fourth vintage of marmalade and this year’s vintage included a sneaky tot of whisky.  Fifteen gleaming jars of non-alcoholic and seven jars with a kick.  What’s not to like?  It’s already getting rave reviews although I doubt I’ll be setting up in the marmalade business.  Paddington seems to have that market sewn up already!

If you’ve managed to read down to this point, I hope that my shortcomings have bought a smile to your lips as you recount your own stories of not quite getting it right.  Yet I really wanted to leave you with a positive message for 2025.  If you don’t at first succeed (in your opinion) what you’ve achieved is probably way past what’s acceptable and there really is no need to try, try and try again!

If you want to to have a good ol’ natter about pushing through the barriers of negativity Let’s Chat.